Tombstone Tuesday: Joe J Wheeler

Joe J Wheeler

b 21 Jul 1898

d 22 Feb 1958

laid to rest at

Wheeler Cemetery

Kite, Johnson County, Georgia

son of

Shade J Wheeler

and

Shapronia Smith

husband of

Vera Norris

Joe J Wheeler was the 1st cousin, 1x removed of 

Maud Wheeler

who was the wife of my grand uncle,

Bascom Bishop Tapley

Amanuensis Monday: Granville (North Carolina) Proprietary Land Office Records - Entries, Warrants, Surveys

On Friday, I had a day off work so I visited the North Carolina Archives in Raleigh.  I spent several pleasurable hours looking at microfilm and printing out land warrants and plats.  I do not have much experience with these items, so I was happy to find an introduction on the microfilm.  I thought I would share the information here for any others who are not familiar with them.

Introduction to the Granville Entry Papers, Warrants, and Plats of Survey

  The files of loose papers microfilmed herein are supporting documents that were created during the process of granting deeds in the Proprietary Land Office of John Carteret, Earl Granville.

  When a file of papers on this microfilm is complete, the file should include at least one copy each of three documents:  an entry, a warrant, and a plat of survey.

  The entry is the document first executed by the person who wished to purchase vacant land from the Proprietary Land Office.  This document briefly described the vacant land and estimated the acreage of the vacant tract.  The person making the entry in the hope of purchasing the land signed the entry paper.

  The warrant was signed by one of  Lord Granville's agents or by someone connected with the land office who had been authorized by the agent to sign for him.  The warrant repeats the description exactly from the entry paper, and it repeats the estimated acreage shown in the entry paper.  The warrant authorized or warranted the surveyor to make an actual survey of the vacant land and to reduce the survey to a plat.

  The plat of survey is the little map of the vacant land drawn by the surveyor, and it described the land as the surveyor laid it off.  It reported the actual acreage found vacant and surveyed as opposed to the estimated acreage reported in the entry and in the warrant.  The acreage in the plat of survey may differ considerably from the estimated acreage shown in the entry and in the warrant.  Plats of survey were made in three copies.  One copy was attached to the indented deed that was put into the hands of the grantee; one copy of the plat was usually (but not necessarily always) attached to the counterpart of the indented deed to be sent to Lord Granville in London; the third copy of the plat was filed in the Land Office.  This means that if three copies of a plat of survey are left in a file, the grant of deed never ripened and the land was not conveyed to the person for whom the survey was made.

  The usual length of time necessary for a grant of deed to ripen from the entry was twelve months.  Ideally, then, the entry paper and the grant should be dated about a year apart, or less.  The researcher should be aware that this ideal was often not realized.  There are many examples of entry papers and grants of deeds bearing  dates that are twelve years rather than twelve months apart.

  There are several problems in using these records in interpreting data found in them.  The fact that documents are filed together on this microfilm is no guarantee that the documents relate to the same piece of land.

  Multiple entries.  Often there are two or more entries of the same date for the same person for land in the same county.  When the description of the vacant land is vague, or when the estimates of acreage are incorrect, it may prove impossible to determine with precision which entry papers go with which warrants, plats, or grants.

  Formation of new counties.  Sometimes the vacant land is described as being entered in such a county, but before the granting process has been completed a new county is formed with the result that the land is no longer in the original county specified in the entry.

  Assignments.  At each step in the granting process, some interest in the land was obtained by the person paying the fees at each step.  This interest was not a title to the land, but the interest was a saleable commodity that could be transferred or assigned, to the new party.  Thus, an entry may be in the name of one person, the warrant in the name of another, the plat of survey in the name of a third, and the grant of deed to someone different altogether.

If you are still reading this... isn't it great information?!  I just wish I had read it BEFORE I made copies from the microfilm.  Oh well, I'll go back another day. 

So the first warrant I am going to transcribe is a perfect example of one that went through several hands.  The warrant is dated March 20, 1753 and is for 640 acres of land on the Flat River in (what was then) Granville County, North Carolina.  (Interestingly and amazing to me is the fact that the Flat River runs through Durham County, which is where I now live.)  The warrant was issued in the name of John Mills.  The land was surveyed for John Wade, but "being lost," was removed in Mason Pigman's name.  Deed was ultimately issued in the name of Hosea Tapley. 

NORTH CAROLINA.

  JAMES INNES and FRANCIS CORBIN, Esqrs. Agents and Commissioners, of the Right Honourable the Earl GRANVILLE, {? ? ?} Sole Lord and Proprietor of a certain District, Territory, or Parcel of Land, lying in the Province of North-Carolina {?}.

  To M. William Churton, His Lordship's Deputy-Surveyor for the County of Granville,

  YOU are forthwith to admeasure and lay out, unto John Mills, a Tract of Land, containing Six hundred & forty Acres, lying in Granville County, within the said District; Lying on flat River, beginning so as to Include George Vessels Improvements.

  Observing our Instructions, for running out Lands; Three just and fair Plans whereof, certified under your Hand, you are to return to us, within Six Months from the Date hereof:  Which Survey of the above-mentioned Lands, so to be return'd as aforesaid, shall be good and valid for the said John Mills provided he the said John Mills do, within Twelve Months after such Return, take out a Grant of the same Lands, to compleat his Title:  Otherwise this Warrant, and such your Return thereof, shall be void, and of no Force, and the said Lands be deemed vacant and free to be taken up by any other Person that shall apply for the Purpose.  Dated and Signed the 20th Day of March 1758.

  Frn^s Corbin {signature}

Entered in the Office of the
Right Honourable the Earl
Granville, at Granville the
13th Day of Jan: {?}
Anno Dom, 1752
 

From the outside or back of the warrant:

July the 18th 1753
  the Entry on the Other side being surveyed for Jn Wade being Lost is now removed in Mason Pigman Name Lying on the North fork of Flat River being the place where he now Locate.

Deed May 15/56
to
Hosea Tapley 
Granville
1753

Secretary of State, Granville Proprietary Land Office.  Entries, Warrants, Surveys.  1748-1763, Granville, Ph through Halifax, Jo, Microfilm Call #S.108.276, accessed 04/26/13, North Carolina Archives, Raleigh, NC.

This Hosea Tapley, I believe, is my 5th great grand uncle.

Sunday's Obituary: Novie Townsend Cochran

Mrs. Novie I. Cochran 

Mrs. Novie I. Cochran of Fayetteville died Sunday.

The funeral will be conducted at 2pm Wednesday in Calvary Assembly of God by the Rev. Anthony LeGear. Burial will be in Cross Creek Cemetery. 

Mrs. Cochran is survived by three daughters, Greta Williams of Fayetteville, Patricia Lehman of Smyrna, Ga. and Barbara D. Thompson of Carnation, Wash.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 9 at Highland Funeral Service & Crematory.

Emanuel-Johnson County GaArchives Obituaries.....Cochran, Novie I. Townsend October 9, 1994

The Fayetteville Observer October 1994

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/emanuel/obits/c/cochran1832nob.txt

 

Novie was born 21 Aug 1913 to Silas James Townsend and Catherine "Cassie" Tyson Townsend. Silas is buried in Cross Creek Cemetery in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Catherine is buried in Sardis Church Cemetery in Emanuel County, Georgia.

 

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - A Research Problem and Lessons Learned

From Randy over at Genea-Musings: 

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!): 

1)  Think back to when you first started doing genealogy and family history research.  What was one of your first real research problems?  How did you attack the problem?  Did you solve the problem?  If so, how?  What lessons did you learn from this experience?

2)  Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook or Google Plus.

Here's mine:

 

When I first started doing genealogy research, I was a pre-teen or teenager... so I do not recall my research problems from that time.  Back then there was no Internet to do quick searches; everything was done by postal letter!  What helped me the most at that time was hearing from Ray Tapley, the author of Tapley:  A Family of Georgia And the South, a book I still refer to constantly.  Ray wanted information about our line of the Tapleys.  My parents weren't interested so I gathered the information from my grandfather's notes and sent it to Ray myself.  Thus began a correspondence that taught me so much about my family and where they came from.  The genealogy bug grabbed me tight and did not ever let go after that.  

Since then, I have run up on several research problems; some of which I have solved and some I have not.  The one that stands out in my mind is wanting to learn about my Uncle Russ Tapley's military service during World War II.  All I knew was that he had been in the European Theatre.  Supposedly serving in General Patton's 3rd Army, according to my father.  I brainstormed many, many ideas for finding his DD-214.  I hit many roadblocks and dead ends, but ultimately I was successful.  I chronicled my search here on my blog through four different blog posts:

http://gatapleytree.blogspot.com/2010/11/military-monday-john-russell-russ.html

http://gatapleytree.blogspot.com/2011/01/military-and-mystery-monday-john.html

http://gatapleytree.blogspot.com/2011/02/military-monday-john-russell-russ.html

http://gatapleytree.blogspot.com/2013/02/military-monday-john-russell-russ.html

The biggest lesson I learned was to never give up.  Brainstorm ideas and keep looking.  You never know when the one piece of information you need will surface.  Databases and other information is being added to the Internet all the time.  In my case, the old-fashioned filing system of a county courthouse was the answer to my inquiry, so don't overlook those types of sources.  

Also, and I don't know that this is a lesson so much as just the way I am wired, I like to put my research about an ancestor into the context of the time period in which they lived.  So I didn't just want to know what unit my uncle was in and that be that.  I did the research to find out what that unit did and where they were during World War II and how my uncle's service fit into that.  It brings our family's history to life.  It's not just names and dates.  

Bessie Carter Ranney's 1929 Diary - Week 16, April 21-23

(To read entries from my maternal great-grandmother's 1929 diary, please click on the tab "Posts by Topic" and then go to the topic "California." All posts are listed there.)

  
The Players:

The writer is Bessie Carter Ranney, my great-grandmother.  She was 46 at the time of this writing.

Her husband:

Luther Boardman Ranney, my great-grandfather.  He was 59 at the time of this writing.

 Her children:

Kenneth.  He was 20 at the time of this writing.

Alice.  She was 18 at the time of this writing.

Ethel, my grandmother.  She was 16 at the time of this writing.

  Extras:

Viella Crites Hesser, wife of Luther's first cousin, Otho Hesser

Jonathan Elisha "Uncle Jon't" Hesser & his wife, Sarah Catherine "Aunt Kate" Hall Hesser, Luther's uncle and aunt and Otho's parents.

Sunday, April 21, 1929:  "Alice, Ethel & I went to Sun. School & later Alice & Ethel went to Ramona to Hemet with, Elsie, Clint & Carley & came home at 7.  I wrote letters all afternoon.  We went to Church in the evening."

Monday, April 22, 1929:  "Washed and varnished the girls' linoleum.  Cleaned house all day.  After supper the girls went to Pence's & Luther & I called on Laura Dodson who is having trouble with her back then came back & went to a lecture and entertainment at the new High School auditorium under auspices of school board as it it school week."

Tuesday, April 23, 1929:  "Did more painting & house cleaning.  Mrs. Shroeder called in the afternoon.  Alice & I went to the "Poor Nut" the U. of R. Senior play.  Very good."

At this point, my great-grandmother stopped making entries in her 1929 diary.  Near the back of the book, I found the following notes:

"The Mackay School of Mines
University of Nevada
J.A. Fulton, Pres. Reno, Nev.

Ott F. Heizer
Gen. Mgr.
Nevada-Massachusetts Co.
Mill City, Nevada

448 miles Los Angeles to Sacremento.  160 mi. from Sacremento to Reno.  Reno to Mll City 146 mi."

This may have been the journey Kenneth took to go work in the mills in Nevada.  It sounded as if she took it hard when he went.

The good news is I have one more of her diaries.  Stayed tuned for that. 

Wordless Wednesday: Leamon and Martha Drake Ellison

Leamon Ellison

and

Martha "Marthie" Lou Drake Ellison

Marthie Drake was my grand aunt, the youngest sister of my grandmother, Nealie Drake Tapley. 

Tombstone Tuesday: John J Perdue

John J Perdue

b 09 Sep 1866

d 28 Mar 1951

laid to rest at

Minton Chapel Advent Christian Church Cemetery

Johnson County, Georgia

husband of

Lucy Beckom Perdue,

Linnie Schwalls Perdue,

and

Julie Tyson Perdue

J. J. Perdue was married to my great grand aunt, Linnie Schwalls Perdue.

 

Sunday's Obituary: Roberta McAfee Foskey

"Beloved Lady Dies Suddenly At Her Home

 The Scott community was deeply saddened early last Friday morning by the

announcement from the home of Mr. Lott Foskey, prominent farmer of that

section, that his wife had suddenly passed away at the family home about 5

o'clock. She had been up previously and had carried her daily work on Thursday

but Thursday night she made a few complaints of not feeling well and did not

rest so good during the night. Early Friday morning, she told the family she

was feeling worse and in a few minutes she had died. She was a fine christian

woman, loved by everyone, and devoted her life to the home, school, church,

her friends and to her family. She was 58 and before her marriage she was a

Miss McAfee. Her husband and five children survive. Funeral services were

conducted at Bay Springs at eleven o'clock Saturday by the Rev. W. P. Cox, her

pastor, and the burial was in the Bay Springs church cemetery." 

Johnson County GaArchives Obituaries.....Foskey, Roberta "Berta" McAfee March 16, 1934

The Wrightsville Headlight 3-22-1934 Front Page

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/johnson/obits/f/foskey12565ob.txt

Berta Foskey's brother-in-law, Nathan Tucker Foskey (the brother of her husband), was married to my grand aunt, Nancy Jane Harrell Foskey.

Bessie Carter Ranney's 1929 Diary - Week 15, April 14-20

(To read entries from my maternal great-grandmother's 1929 diary, please click on the tab "Posts by Topic" and then go to the topic "California." All posts are listed there.)

  
The Players:

The writer is Bessie Carter Ranney, my great-grandmother.  She was 46 at the time of this writing.

Her husband:

Luther Boardman Ranney, my great-grandfather.  He was 59 at the time of this writing.

 Her children:

Kenneth.  He was 20 at the time of this writing.

Alice.  She was 18 at the time of this writing.

Ethel, my grandmother.  She was 16 at the time of this writing.

  Extras:

Viella Crites Hesser, wife of Luther's first cousin, Otho Hesser

Jonathan Elisha "Uncle Jon't" Hesser & his wife, Sarah Catherine "Aunt Kate" Hall Hesser, Luther's uncle and aunt and Otho's parents.

Sunday, April 14, 1929:  "The girls & I went to Sun. S & rode around Smiley Heights awhile afterwards.  Had dinner then Carly took the girls for a long ride, weren't home until after 6.  Luther & I went out to Pete Engelland's & back to Vespers.  Had to stay at Woessner's in the eve."

Monday, April 15, 1929:  "Washed & cleaned wood work & floor in Kenneth's room.  Got 2 cards & 3 letters from K. in the forenoon.  Alice & I went up town when L. got home from work."

Tuesday, April 16, 1929:  "Varnished K. bedroom floor, & ironed then went to Mrs. Garretson's & quilted until nearly 5.  Stayed at home & made quilt blocks in the eve.  Ethel went to Elsie's with Carley."

Wednesday, April 17, 1929:  "Painted K. bed, chair & table & mowed lawn.  Got first letter from K. after he reached the mine.  Went down to Mrs. Garretson's about 11 to quilt.  Mrs. McLaury & I were there for lunch.  Went up town & met Alice took her to Dr. Campbell for glasses & made date with Dr. Hawkins for treatment for her tonight.  Freda & Lucille were here for supper."

Thursday, April 18, 1929:  "A rainy day.  I went up to Mrs. Raley's to a luncheon, we had a lovely time and a good visit.  Took Alice up to Dr. Hawkins at 4:30 and he examined her.  Found her lungs all right but blood pressure high & nerves bad."

Friday, April 19, 1929:  "Luther went to work at noon. I went down to Mrs. Garretson's & helped finish the quilt.  Called on Mrs. Dickerson on the way home.  Luther, Alice & I went to the Community Sing in the evening."

Saturday, April 20, 1929:  "Got the car & the girls and I went to San Bernardino.  Saw Mrs. McKinney Moran and her mother there and they were coming home with us but we missed them so came home & had lunch then went to Nora's but Mrs. Mc.K. & mother came & called up so we came home.  They were here for supper.  Flo has a new car."